Dahlia Anemone

Urticina felina

About

Sea anemones live attached to the rocks, catching plankton and tiny animals from the water with their stinging tentacles. They can be found in rock pools around the low tide mark, sometimes in small groups. The Dahlia Anemone has a squat, jelly-like 'body' which is warty-looking and often covered with pieces of gravel and broken shell. It has fairly short, thick tentacles which are retracted when disturbed or when uncovered by the falling tide.

How to identify

Distinguished from other anemones by the banded tentacles and the warty, gravelly 'body'. Very variable in colour, 'body' often blue or green with blotches of brown or red. Tentacles paler, with bands of darker colour.

Where to find it

On rocky shores around all our coasts.

Habitats

When to find it

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

How can people help

Sea anemones may be a familiar sight when rock-pooling, but our seas and coastline are in need of protection if we are to keep our marine wildlife healthy. The Wildlife Trusts are working with fishermen, researchers, politicians and local people towards a vision of 'Living Seas', where marine wildlife thrives. This work has recently had a massive boost with the passing of the Marine Bill, promising sustainable development of the UK's marine environment. Do your bit for our Living Seas by supporting your local Wildlife Trust.